Ayurveda is a science of medicine. It originated in India 5000 years ago.

In Sanskrit, Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge. Ayurveda focus on healthy life style, prevention of disease, and rejuvenation.

I was deeply touched the moment I attended a short introduction to Ayurveda given by Dr. Jayagopal from Bangalore, India. He shared the basic philosophy of Ayurveda and its tools to treat early, before illness fully manifests. Working in Western medicine for decades as a Nurse Practitioner, I learned to 'wait' for symptoms of a disease before able to treat it, yet, Ayurvedic medicine has tools to prevent illnesses and treat the imbalances early.

The secret lies in its roots that are based on observation of nature.

Ayurveda recognizes five elements in all creation:

Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space (ether).

From there, it goes to explain the three main characters or Doshas in Sanskrit.

Characters of energies found in nature, are called Vata, Pitta, & Kapha:

The power of digestion in Ayurveda is called Agni. Bloating and gas pains, indigestion and irregular bowel movements are often associated with low Agni. When digestion is not appropriate it leads to poor assimilation of the food and accumulation of toxins (AMA in Sanskrit).

Each individual is different, but there are some universal principles that helps us all have healthy digestion and strong Agni:

1.Keeping a schedule of meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Healthy gut requires us to follow the circadian rhythm of nature.

2.Avoiding ice and cold foods helps digestion because ice constricts the lining of our gut and prevents adequate assimilation of the nutrients.

3.Avoiding leftover foods. Old food no longer has Prana. Start by cooking smaller portions and use leftovers to create compost for your plants.

4. Avoiding artificial sugar, not only for its carcinogenic dancer, but artificial sugar actually causes an increase in weight. Taking in a sweet taste fools the body to release more insulin. High insulin requires more food.

Evaluate whether or not that message is one of kindness, respect, and love.

If the message could be more loving, rephrase what you are telling your body and repeat that new message often throughout your day.

“When we interpret what’s happening around us, the brain and central nervous system respond by sending our cells a constant stream of messages that directly impact our physical state. Positive messages draw healthy responses from our bodies in the form of stronger immune systems and healthier sleep patterns, among many other benefits that can last a lifetime” (Deepak Chopra).